WREXHAM'S MP is calling on businesses to sign up to the Kickstart Scheme.

Sarah Atherton has welcomed the Government’s landmark new scheme, and is urging local employers to sign up in order to help young people get back into work.

The £2 billion scheme has been designed to ensure young people at risk of long term unemployment have a future of opportunity and hope by creating quality, Government-subsidised jobs across the UK, as well as helping to spur the country’s economic recovery after the coronavirus pandemic.

Under the scheme, announced in June as part of the Government’s Plan for Jobs, employers that sign up will be able to offer youngsters aged between 16-24, who are claiming Universal Credit, a six-month work placement that is fully funded by the Government.

This means the Government will pay 100 per cent of the young persons’ age-relevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week, which the employer can top up if they chose to.

In addition, the Government will also pay the employer £1,500 for each young person they take on, to support any training or associated costs like uniforms that they might incur when setting up the scheme.

Sarah Atherton, said: "We cannot allow young people to be left behind as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and schemes like this will be vital for creating jobs and giving young people the skills to access them.

"I’m delighted that the Conservative Government are putting young people at the heart of its plans to build back stronger after the pandemic, and hope as many as possible in Wrexham are able to take part."

The scheme will initially be open until December 2021, but there is the option for it to be extended.

Young people will be referred into the new roles through their Jobcentre Plus work coach with the first Kickstarts expected to begin at the start of November.